17 Gift Ideas for the Runner in Your Life (That Aren't Shoes)

Apparel, recovery equipment, and of course, wireless sports headphones.You know those mornings when your loved one rolls out of bed, treads across the very cold floor to suit up for a six-mile run in the freezing pre-dawn air? They’re nuts, and by no means should you get out of bed and join them. Instead, just buy them some gifts that will help them continue to put one foot in front of the other.
Speaking of feet, you’ll notice we didn’t pick any shoes. Footwear is a very personal choice, and serious athletes engage in a lot of trial-and-error testing to pick their shoes. Chances are your runner already has a pair (or three) that they love anyway, so just get this stuff instead.
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01

Brooks

Women's Canopy Jacket

Price$120

Pick a running jacket that’s as unstoppable as your loved one. The breathable fabric on this jacket from Brooks Running was built to resist the elements, even as frost descends on the running trails. Headphone anchors lock wired headphones in place, and on nighttime runs, front and back reflectivity will keep her safe as she cuts through the wind like lightning.

Aqua Quest

Kona Pouch

Price$35

This little pouch clips around the waist. Much hipper than a fanny pack, and just as useful. It holds a phone, shades, keys, energy gel, sunscreen, a wad of cash, vape, whatever. And it’s resistant to water, sweat, rain, and sports drinks. Your runner will use it year-round.

Goodr

The OGs Sunglasses

Price$25

Nothing tops off a jog like a pair of striking shades. You might know Goodr for its running sunglasses with cheeky monikers and colors that turn heads. (These bold whites are called "Iced by Yeti.") The frames’ snug fit and slip-resistant coating grip even the most sweat-slicked face, and UV400 protection shields your peepers from the sun and snow glare.

Chums

Original Ltd

Price$9

Maybe your loved one already has a pair of sunglasses they always wear while running. Well, then get them some Chums. These low-tech tethers will keep those sunnies where they belong. They’re especially handy after the first mile, when it’s just a non-stop, slippery sweatfest the whole rest of the run. These things are cheap (under $10 online) so get a few. And they come in some wild colors, even a tie-dye motif for Deadhead Dad.

Icebreaker

Men's Anatomica Short Sleeve Shirt

Price$70

Cotton sucks for running in the cold. You sweat, it sticks to you, and you freeze. The natural thermoregulation of sweat-wicking wool is vastly better. Icebreaker’s 150-weight wool-blend shirt merges Merino sheep-fuzz with performance synthetics. It makes a perfect base layer in the winter, and it’s all your loved one will need up top in the warmer months.

Mighty Audio

Spotify Music Player

Price$86

You can't run at full power without a pumped-up playlist. Mighty's music player syncs up with your Spotify account and pipes tunes into wired headphones and Bluetooth headphones alike. With capacity for over 1,000 songs or hundreds of podcasts, this tiny music box can keep up with your favorite runner for miles. Bonus points if you also make your loved one a Spotify playlist (they're basically the mixtapes of 21st century).

Jaybird

Tarah

Price$100

If you're looking for a slam-dunk gift at a sweet price point, get these. Jaybird's Tarah headphones were one of our picks for the best wireless workout earbuds. The ear pieces have wings to lock into your ear and make sure the buds don't budge, even on the roughest of runs. A single charge makes for six hours of truly excellent sound.

RHA

TrueConnect

Price$170

OK, but what if you want to splurge a little more for your the runner in your life? These cushy, noise-isolating earbuds make workout playlists sound like a dream. They're IPX-5 rated for splash, water, and sweat-resistance, and the silicone tips don't move an inch.

Garmin

Forerunner 935

Price$500

You've spent the whole year watching the runner in your life get up early, train, and set new fitness goals. Surprise that avid athlete with Garmin's features-heavy Forefunner 935. This wearable is tricked out with sensors that monitor heart rate, stride length, vertical oscillation, and other metrics just for runners.

Apple

Watch Series 4 Nike+

Price$399

Cupertino's wearable got an upgrade this year, and it's now one of the most capable fitness trackers on the planet. The Series 4 has a gorgeous new interface, plus new safety features. This sporty version pairs well with the Nike Run Club app. It's the perfect thing for the runner who's all-in on the Nikeverse.

Ultimate Direction

Drop Bag

Price$12

These drop bags are used in races—you fill it with your personal items and extra clothes, write your name and bib number on it, then drop it with the race organizers for safe keeping. They also work great for travel, or just for carrying shoes and shorts to and from work. They’re cheap, so get a few.

Petzl

Tikkina Headlamp

Price$20

It's getting colder, and days are only getting shorter. An emergency headlamp is a must-have for twilight runs, especially if there's a chance your runner might be caught on an unexpected night run. This one from Petzl is lightweight, affordable, and IPX-4 rated for waterproofing, in case of an unexpected winter downpour.

Penguin Random House

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running"

Price$14

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami is best known for his surreal fictional narratives, but this memoir about his experience as an amateur long-distance runner is more personal and more inspiring. He traces his running obsession back to when he wasn’t yet a novelist, just a semi-depressed owner of a jazz club. Together, running and writing broke him out of a funk. Now, he runs ultramarathons and competes in triathlons (and his bestsellers win book awards). Every runner should read this—especially if they’re already fans of Murakami’s self-deprecating wit.

TriggerPoint

Grid Foam Roller

Price$65

Most people consider these things torture devices, but a good roller is essential to keeping a runner’s leg and core muscles supple. Use them for recovery and to keep everything activated on off-days. Work that IT band!

Master of Muscle

Massage Ball

Price$7

There’s a disorder called plantar fasciitis that affects the tendons along the bottom of the foot and around the heel. It painful, and most runners will have issues with it at some point. There’s no cure, but two things help: lots of stretching, and working the bottoms of the feet with one of these balls. The hard plastic nubs dig into the foot and provide an eye-watering trigger-point massage. Your runner needs two of these—one for home and one for the office.